The weekend's almost here, so you have time to relax and check out a free game (or three) on your smartphone. Here are the highlights from the last week.

This is a hand-picked list of free apps we've noticed this week while assembling our regular App Deals roundup of new and discounted apps. We haven't reviewed them and we don't endorse them. As with the main App Deals column, apps can stop being free at a moment's notice if they're discounted, so grab them quickly if you're interested.

Android

ArchipelagoFrom the publisher's description: "Looking for a highly-addictive real-time strategy game that is easy to learn and hours of fun? Look no further than Archipelago! The goal of the game is quite simple: just capture all of the enemy islands on the map."

DopplerFrom the publisher's description: "Like twitch action games? Like a challenge? Want to play something a little different? Doppler is for you!"

EA Sports UFCFrom the publisher's description: "Step into the Octagon® with EA SPORTS™ UFC® for mobile! Collect your favorite UFC fighters, throw down in competitive combat, and earn in-game rewards by playing live events tied to the real world of the UFC."

Run TerRio RunFrom the publisher's description: Join TerRio's biggest adventure yet! Lil TerRio just got caught playing Ding Dong Ditch! RUN as fast as you can! Dodge the oncoming cars, buses, and rollerbladers! Help TerRio run away from the grandpa's door he was ding dong ditching."

GlyderFrom the publisher's description: "Navigate your Glyder through the never-ending game world, collect various power-ups and items on your way and try to beat the #1 global Highscore - or at least reach the Top 100 first!"

Modern Combat 5: BlackoutFrom the publisher's description: "Step into the action as the latest instalment in the best FPS series raises the bar for shooters once more! Create a squad, add your friends and test your individual and team skills against other squads! Is single player your thing? Then step into a world on the brink of anarchy and shoot your way out of one dire situation after another to expose a lunatic who’s trying to tear the world to shreds."

Who Stole Me?From the publisher's description: "Someone stole me and my friends and put us in bubbles! Match colors and set us free in this addictive physics puzzler."

Hero Sky: Epic Guild WarsFrom the publisher's description: "Join arms with your friends to fight in spectacular guild wars against players from all around the world! Customize your favorite Hero and dive into endless battles with your own unique combination of Troops and Heroes! Build your village into an impenetrable fortress and claim supremacy over the Sky World!"

LaneMineFrom the publisher's description: "Control your character by shifting lanes, left and right. Avoid mines and kill-zones and collect all the coins. Complete the level in different ways."

iOS

SwordigoFrom the publisher's description: "Run, jump and fight your way through a vast world to defeat the spreading corruption."

Modern Combat 5: BlackoutFrom the publisher's description: "Step into the action as the latest instalment in the best FPS series raises the bar for shooters once more! Create a squad, add your friends and test your individual and team skills against other squads! Is single player your thing? Then step into a world on the brink of anarchy and shoot your way out of one dire situation after another to expose a lunatic who’s trying to tear the world to shreds."

2-bit CowboyFrom the publisher's description: "2-bit Cowboy is a Western action platformer game, styled after classics of the Gameboy era."

Toca NatureFrom the publisher's description: "Shape nature and watch it develop. Plant trees and grow a forest. Raise a mountain and enjoy the view. Collect berries, mushrooms or nuts, and feed the different animals. Learn who eats what and discover how much it takes to winkle a bear out."

Lost Souls: Enchanted Paintings HD From the publisher's description: "A 3D Sci-Fi Adventure Mystery, designed by veterans of LucasArts’ classics: The Curse of Monkey Island, The Dig and Full Throttle, Bill Tiller and Gene Mocsy."

Mighty Switch Force! Hose It Down!From the publisher's description: "Team up with Officer Patricia Wagon to save Tangent City from a fiery blaze! As a member of Planet Land’s Fire Brigade, your job is to douse the fire in each building -- and to evacuate any Hooligan Sisters who may be trapped inside. It’s a dangerous job, but if anyone can save the city, you and Patty can!"

Time SurferFrom the publisher's description: "Surf for your life across the galaxy! The end of the universe is after you. Your only hope? Cheating death by rewinding time! Get ready for an adrenaline-pumping surf!"

Agent RXFrom the publisher's description: "You are Agent RX. One of the best agent from ISEN. Unfortunately ISEN’s secret military base,a floating fortress called ARIES has been compromised by unknown assailants. Only with stealth infiltration can recover ARIES. Are you up for it?"

Valiant HeartsFrom the publisher's description: "Immerse yourself in the touching story of four unsung heroes swept up by World War 1 in this unique interactive graphic novel that combines action, puzzles and adventure."

GridrunnerFrom the publisher's description: "Here's another slick shooter from the developer who is rapidly gaining a reputation as the king of retro on iOS."

Fry It GameFrom the publisher's description: "Yummy!!! What could be more delicious than steak? Forget about vegetables, culinary plants and other vegetarian haulm! Be a real peasant with a real toad-in-the-hole with Fry It!"

Public Transport SimulatorFrom the publisher's description: "Jump behind the steering wheel in this driving simulator. There are three different types of missions, depending on what type of vehicle you choose."

Mega Splash 3DFrom the publisher's description: "Mega Splash 3D is a unique puzzle game similar to Tetris but a whole lot more fun! Help our character to protect his tower! Drop the same fruit color on top of others in order to keep the tower from growing too tall. The goal is to get the right fruit to the right blob,then to pop it with a tap once."

Star Wars: CommanderFrom the publisher's description: "Charge into battle on distant planets, and lead your troops to victory in this action-packed, combat strategy game! Build a base, recruit an unstoppable force, and challenge players across the Star Wars universe in Star Wars: Commander!"

Xtreme DirtzFrom the publisher's description: "Xtreme Dirtz... a game seriously not for beginners... it's for real gamers. You have to be a true gamer to beat this one."

Prefer desktop gaming? The Internet Archive has released over 2000 classic MS-DOS video games into an easy-to-navigate repository. Every single one of the games is free to play in your browser. Click here to see some of the best titles.